Collaborative Destruction... a new note on revision

I wish to revise my blog on revision...

I just finished showing a staged reading of Electra and now I think I may understand a little of what Peter Shaffer was thinking while he kept messing with Amadeus. Watching a performance, sometimes things just don't work. I would get frustrated at my writing or listen to the actors read the lines and think "what on earth is this rubbish?" and then go home, rewrite the scene, and give it back to my actors. Even then sometimes it didn't work. I think the most frightening moment was after my very first stumble through when I realized the entire play needed to be rewritten because I had completely failed to write characters people could relate to. So I went home, stayed up all night, and even then couldn't actually find a way to change it. Finally I met with both Matthew and Ella who were able to give me a third party look at the work and help me pin-point where things needed the most work and brainstorm how to do that. I wonder if Peter Shaffer had anyone to do that for him. I mean, editors sure, but I mean close friends. I feel like he probably does and I would love to know what they told him.
"Hey Pete- why is Amadeus saying this? He sounds like an idiot."
Who knows? But it is a fascinating idea to me. I think a cool idea for a play might center around a playwright and their friend. I'm sure it has been done before but I might want to try writing one anyway. Why not right? Then I can have it looked over by my friends, get told which parts are crap, and then full cycle the play!
So I guess what I am trying to say in this little mind spill is that sometimes revision really needs to come from an outside party. A playwright can be too close to the writing. Maybe it really isn't as dreadful as you think, or maybe it is. Revision needs to come both from the author and from the authors friends. People who know you and can tell you honestly and efficiently what needs to be changed. I like this idea. Collaborative destruction.